Storm cellar hatch



Dec. 25, 1962 w. H. GIBSON 3,069,731

STORM GELLAR HATCH Filed Nov. 26, 1958 l"li M! flu Fig.3 76 .8 g d g a.. 6 7,2 INVENTOR 2 william H. Gibson /5- 5 W 3 f3 [3 L I.' g ,4 BY K 77 Figq ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,069,731 Patented Dec. 25, 1962 3,069,731 STRM CELLAR HATCH Wiiiiam H. Gibson, Rte. 13, Box 233, Fort Worth, Tex. Filed Nov. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 776,595 2 Claims. (Cl. 20-19) rIhis invention relates to a storm cellar hatch and cover, and it concerns more particularly, in combination with a casing defining a chamber adapted to be positioned substantially below the surface of the ground, for use as a storm cellar or the like, an access hatch in the top of the casing and removable cover normally closing the hatch.

An object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a casing defining a chamber adapted to be positioned substantially below the surface of the ground, for use as a storm cellar or the like, an access hatch in the top of the casing, a removable cover normally closing the hatch, and means supporting the cover for vertical and horizontal movement relative to the casing whereby the cover may be readily applied to the hatch and removed therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a casing defining a chamber adapted to be positioned substantially below the surface of the ground, for use as a storm cellar or the like, an access hatch consisting of an opening in the top of the casing having an upstanding flange about its peripheral edges, a removable cover normally closing the hatch and having a downturned peripheral flange overlying the upstanding flange of the hatch in the closed position of the cover, and means supporting the cover for vertical and horizintal movement relative to the casing whereby the cover may be raised and lowered in and out of engagement with the hatch, and in its raised position is movable horizontally relative thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in cornbination with a casing defining a chamber adapted to be positioned substantially below the surface of the ground, for use as a storm cellar or the like, an access hatch consisting of an opening in the top of the casing having an upstanding flange about its peripheral edges, a removable cover normally closing the hatch and having a downturned peripheral flange overlying the upstanding flange of the hatch in the closed position of the cover, a pair of parallel rails forming a track adapted to support the cover for horizontal movement relative to the casing, rollers on opposite sides of thel cover for engagement with the rails whereby the cover is supported on the rails, and a plurality of links each pivotally connected at its ends to the casing and to one of the rails whereby the rails are movable from a retracted position relative to the casing, in which the cover is adapted to be seated on the hatch, to an extended position in which the cover is adapted to be raised above the hatch.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in the structure described, a crank lever acting on the links and having lever arms accessisble from inside and outside the casing whereby the links are capable of a limited pivotal movement, to thereby move the rails from their retracted positions to their extended positions relative to the casing, upon manipulation of the lever arms, and detent means capable of releasably engaging one of the lever arms whereby the rails may be selectively secured in either their retracted or extended positions.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a storm cellar hatch and cover embodying the invention, showing the cover in its open positions;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, showing the cover in its closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a casing, which is shown fragmentarily, and which defines a chamber adapted to be positioned substantially below the surface of the ground, for use as a storm cellar or the like. The casing 1 advantageously may be cylindrical, and may be disposed horizontally in :an excavation provided therefor in the earth, with only its top side extending above the surface.

An access hatch 2, which communicates with the interior of the casing 1, consists of a rectangular opening in the top of the casing 1 having an upstanding flange 3 about its peripheral edges. A removable cover 4, which normally closes the hatch 2 and conforms to the shape thereof, has a downturned peripheral -ange 5 overlying the upstanding flange 3 of the hatch 2 in the closed position of the cover 4.

A pair of rails 6, which are arranged horizontally above the casing 1, in parallel relation to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the casing 1, form a track adapted to support the cover 4 for horizontal movement relative to the casing 1. A plurality of rollers 7 are rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the cover 4 for engagement with the rails 6 whereby the cover 4 is supported on the rails 6.

The rollers 7 are rigidly secured to stub shafts 8, which are journaled in bearings 9 provided therefor on the top side `of the cover 4. The stub shafts 8 are capable of a limited axial movement relative to the bearings 9.

The rails 6 are C shaped in transverse section, and provide channels in which the rollers 7 are received. The stub shafts 8 extend through longitudinal slots 10 provided therefor in the rails 6. Stops 11 are provided at the ends of the rails 6 for engagement by the rollers 7.

A plurality of links 12 are each pivotally connected at its ends to an upstanding bracket 13, which in turn is secured to the casing 1, and to one of the rails 6, whereby the rails 6 are movable from a retracted position relative to the casing 1, in which the cover 4 is adapted to be seated on the hatch 2, to an extended position in which the cover 4 is adapted to be raised above the hatch 2.

A shaft 14 is arranged transversely relative to the hatch 2, and extends through openings provided therefor in the upstanding iiange 3 on opposite sides of the hatch 2. The' shaft 14 is journaled at its ends in two of the upstanding brackets 13, and has the corresponding links 12 rigidly connected thereto.

A lever arm 15 is rigidly connected at one end to one end of the shaft 14, exteriorly of the casing 1, and extends radially outwardly therefrom. A lever arm 16, which is bent angularly intermediate its ends, is rigidly connected at one end to an intermediate porti-on of the shaft 14, and extends outwardly therefrom in a direction which is generally opposite that of the lever arm 15'. The lever arm 16 is positioned partly within the hatch 2, and extends into the interior of the casing 1.

The shaft 14, with the connected links 12 and the lever arms 1S and 18, form a crank lever acting on the links 12 whereby the links 12 are capable of a limited pivotal movement, to thereby move the rails 6 from their retracted positions to their extended positions relative to the casing 1, upon manipulation of either of the lever arms 15 and 16. The lever arms 15 and 16 are accessible from outside and inside the casing 1, respectively.

A bar 17, which depends from the top of the casing 1 adjacent one edge of the hatch 2, has a pair of vertically spaced indentations 18 along one of its edges adapted to fricti'onally and releasably engage the free end of the lever arm 16 whereby the rails 6 may be selectively secured in either their retracted or extended positions.

The invention may be modied in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. -In a closure for an access hatch for an underground refuge shelter comprising a casing having a vertical peripheral flange, a cover for the said hatchl having a depending peripheral ange overlapping the said vertical liange of said hatch in closed position, a pair of rails spaced apart and paralleling each side of said hatch and slidably supporting said cover, each of said rails having a groove formed along its inner face and co-extensive therewith, a roller pivotally mounted on each corner of said cover and rotatively extending into said grooves whereby to slidably support said cover on said rails, a plurality of links pivotally supporting said rails on said casing, a shaft arranged transversely of said hatch and extending through the sides of said vertical flange, and having one pair of said links rigidly connected thereto, and lever means on said shaft internally and externally of said casing for raising and lowering said cover with respect to said hatch.

2. In a closure for an access hatch for an underground refuge shelter having a top plate, and a peripheral vertical ange thereon formed about said hatch, a cover for said hatch having a depending peripheral flange overlapping said vertical ange in closed position, a rail arranged along and spaced outwardly from each side of said hatch, the said rails collectively forming a track for slidably supporting saidcover in open and closed posi tions in horizontal planes above said hatch, each of said rails having a groove formed along its inner face and coextensive therewith, a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposing sides of said cover and rotatively extending into said grooves in said rails to slidably support said cover horizontally in open and closed positions, a shaft traversing one end of said hatch 'and extending through and journalled in the opposing sides of said vertical flange, a pair `of links pivotally ,connected at their upper ends to each end of said rails and at their lower ends to said top plate, a pair of links pivoted at their upper ends to said rails intermediate the ends thereof and having their lower ends rigidly attached to the extended ends of said shaft, and levers attached to said shaft internally and externally of said hatch whereby to rotate said Shaft to raise and lower said cover.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 288,354 Mileham Mar. 31, 1883 565,286 Le Gros Aug. 4, 1896 2,653,468 Rowles Sept. 29, 1953 2,945,467 Wigeland July 19, 1960 

